Lake District

Blencathra & Bowscale Fell

HIGH FELLS & LONELY MOORS

This Lakeland circuit crosses Souther Fell, climbs to the top of Blencathra and heads north above dark crags on the east side of Mungrisdale Common.

DIFFICULTY MEDIUM

DISTANCE 14KM

TIME 7 HOURS

TOTAL ASCENT 840M

PEAK BAGGER STATS TRAIL 100S 1 WAINWRIGHTS 4

Everyone knows Blencathra. Its rocky ribs tumble steeply downhill and almost scratch the A66. But this mountain massif offers much more than just its summit, and an energetic circuit from Mungrisdale explores valleys and crags as well as some lonely country that resembles a wild corner in the Highlands.

The walk begins with a wander over the long whaleback of Souther Fell. This gained its 15 minutes of fame between 1735 and 1745 when, on three separate midsummer occasions, a strange ghostly army was seen marching across its tussocky skyline.

A descent to Mousthwaite Comb is followed by a climb up Scales Fell to the plateau at the top of Blencathra, from where you’ll be able to appreciate the deep, tortuous valley of the River Glenderamackin. You will also look north to the wedge of empty moorland stretching beyond Mungrisdale Common.

The route now heads past Atkinson Pike and the top of Sharp Edge, along the rim of Bannerdale Crags and out to Bowscale Fell. Turn round and look south over wide, boggy slopes for a very different view of Blencathra before plotting your way down Raven Crags to finish next to a traditional inn.

4 Lake District

1 NY363302 Cross the footbridge over the River Glenderamackin, linking Mungrisdale’s village hall to the Mill Inn, and turn left on the lane for 350m to a gate. Beyond here the lane becomes unfenced – leave the tarmac and head uphill, initially on a path leading south-west over bracken-clad slopes. After 250m cut west, steeply uphill, to reach the north end of the Souther Fell ridge (this is marked as a hang gliding site on the OS map, with rough crags and screes on the western slopes). Turn south-south-west along the ridge to reach the undistinguished summit – this is the most northerly of three undulating tops and it is marked with nothing more than a small boulder. Continue along the ridge, boggy in places, and follow the path downhill to a junction of several paths at the col between Mousthwaite Comb and the valley of the River Gle